They announced that they were looking for a new owner for the business in a post on the doughnut shop's Facebook page Feb. 3. Makers Donuts opened in January 2016 at its 804 Tyson St. location.

"Hey friends! Big announcement ... Sara and I are offering Makers Donuts for sale (the business, not the building)," the post reads. "We're looking to sell it to a passionate, full-time owner who loves donuts and loves Knoxville. Please message me or send me an email (alsobrooks@gmail.com) if you'd like more details."

'Entrepreneurs at heart'

Sean Alsobrooks said he and Sara enjoy the start up phase of a business, and then they usually step away after a few years.

"We are just kind of like entrepreneurs at heart and so this is like the fourth or fifth business that we started, and we really really love the start-up phase as well as the creation and the planning, and the kind of launching of the business," said Alsobrooks. "And as that sort of moves into more of a management phase is where we feel like it's time for us to step out and hand it to someone that's ready to step in and take it over at that point. So we feel like our strength and our passion, our excitement level is definitely like the first couple of years of the business."

The couple also owned Remedy Coffee for a few years and sold it in fall 2017 to new ownership. They also started an Instagram printing company called Kanvess and sold it after a couple of years.

Alsobrooks said Makers Donuts is doing really well and has been well-supported in the community since before it opened.

"We had a really successful kickstarter, where we had ... I think maybe 100 donors in Knoxville that helped get us started and kick us off, and I mean sales have been great. It's been well received. It's probably in not the best location for a retail spot, but I feel like the neighbors in our part of town have really supported us."

This product image provided by Dunkin' Donuts shows the chain's new "Croissant Donut," which will be launched nationally for a limited time starting Nov. 3, 2014. It comes more than a year after the Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City introduced its now-trademarked Cronut, which became a viral sensation and spawned numerous knockoffs. (AP Photo/Dunkin Donuts) Jim Scherer, AP

The glaze drips off a batch of Dippin’ Donuts Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at their new Maynardville Pike location in Halls. Kent Tharp, owner of Dippin’ Donuts, has moved from Kingston Pike to Halls but continues his daily relationship with Labib Sayar, his former business partner and multiple sclerosis patient. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Possible donut and icing combinations fill the counter of Sara and Sean Alsobrooks' new shop Makers Donuts on Tyson St. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. The shop will open at the end of January. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) CAITIE MCMEKIN

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New owner could keep building or not

The new owner of Makers Donuts could stay in its location on Tyson Street or move to a different spot, according to Alsobrooks.

"We're in a lease to own for the building, so there might be an option for the purchaser to stay in the building or ... it might just be where they find a new location for Makers, you know, somewhere in town," he said. "So yeah, I don't know how that would work yet at this point. I'm not really sure about that ... it's whatever works best for the people that buy it."

Alsobrooks said his and Sara's decision to sell Makers Donuts hasn't affected its new location at the Embassy Suites.

"That's definitely planned on happening, and in talks with the developer and kind of letting him know our thoughts and where we're at, he was very supportive of keeping Makers in there, so that's definitely part of the package moving forward."